The Institution of Christian Religion

With what soever colour many do go about to disguise these deceits, yet shall they never so beguile the eyes of the readers, that are in their right wits, but that they will easily see that these things savour of the Manichees error. And where saint Paul entreateth of the restoring of this image, it may be readily gathered out of his words,¹ that man was made of like form to God, not by inflowing of his substance, but by grace and power of his Spirit. For he sayeth, that in beholding the glory of Christ, we are transformed into the same Image, as by the Spirit of God, which surely so worketh in us, that it maketh us of one substance with God.

With what soeuer colour many dooe go aboute to disguise these deceiptes, yet shal they neuer so beguile the eies of the readers, that are in theyr right wittes, but that they will easilye see that these thyngs sauour of the Manichees errour. And wher saint Paule entreateth of the restoryng of this image, it may be readyly gathered out of his wordes,¹ that man was made of lyke forme to God, not by inflowyng of his substaunce, but by grace and power of his Spirite. For he saieth, that in beholdyng the glory of Christe, we are transformed into the same Image, as by the Spirite of God, whyche surely so worketh in vs, that it maketh vs of one substance with God.

1. 1ii. Cor. iii xviii.

It were but folly to borrow of the Philosophers a definition of the soul, of whom almost none, except Plato, hath perfectly affirmed it to be an immortal substance. In deed some other also, that is the Socratians do touch it, but so as none doeth plainly teach that to other, which him self was not persuaded. But therefore is Plato of the better judgement, because he doeth in the soul consider the image of God. Some other do so bind the powers and virtues of the soul to this present life, that being out of the body they leave to it nothing. Now we have already taught by the Scripture, that it is a bodiless substance: now must we add that although properly it is not comprehended in place, yet it is set in the body, and doeth there dwell as in a house, not only to minister life to all the parts of the body, and to make the instruments thereof mete and fitly serving for the actions that they are appointed for, but also to beat the chief office in governing the life of man, and that not only about the duties in this earthly life, but also to stir us up to the service of God. Although this later print in this corruption is not plainly perceived,